Lenny Bruce

Lenny Bruce Quotes

Search in the quotations of Lenny Bruce :

''Today's comedian has a cross to bear that he built himself. A comedian of the older generation did an "act" and he told the audience, "This is my act." Today's comic is not doing an act. The audience assumes he's telling the truth. What is truth today may be a damn lie next week.''

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), U.S. satirical comedian. "Performing and the Art of Comedy," The Essential Lenny Bruce, ed. John Cohen (1967).

''The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it ... try to fake three laughs in an hourha ha ha ha hathey'll take you away, man. You can't.''

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), U.S. satirical comedian. "Performing and the Art of Comedy," The Essential Lenny Bruce, ed. John Cohen (1967).

''Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous, when you think about it.''

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), U.S. satirical comedian. "Performing and the Art of Comedy," The Essential Lenny Bruce, ed. John Cohen (1967).

''The reason I'm in this business, I assume all performers areit's "Look at me, Ma!" It's acceptance, you know"Look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma." And if your mother watches, you'll show off till you're exhausted; but if your mother goes, Ptshew!''

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), U.S. satirical comedian. "Performing and the Art of Comedy," The Essential Lenny Bruce, ed. John Cohen (1967).

''All my humor is based upon destruction and despair. If the whole world were tranquil, without disease and violence, I'd be standing on the breadline right in back of J. Edgar Hoover.''

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), U.S. satirical comedian. The Essential Lenny Bruce, "Performing and the Art of Comedy," ed. John Cohen (1967).
The passage also appears as the book's epigraph.

''The liberals can understand everything but people who don't understand them.''